Founded by Thamara Bejarano in 2018, Open Scene is a Central Florida-based arts organization known for its dynamic programming and focus on creative collaboration. Director of Productions Mariela Saad plays a central role in shaping its performances and public events. In this interview, Mariela shares insights into Open Scene’s growth, their approach to producing thoughtful work, and the value of building connections through the arts.
Tell us about the mission of your organization. What inspired its founding, and what are your core values?
Open Scene is a Latin, women-led cultural organization based in Orlando, Florida. We create multilingual, multicultural programming that uplifts historically overlooked narratives, preserves cultural traditions, and dismantles stereotypes through innovative and inclusive contemporary artistic expression.
Inspired by the need to center diverse stories within the U.S. cultural landscape, we serve as a creative bridge, connecting communities across languages, generations, and experiences. Our core values include cultural equity and awareness, artistic excellence, equitable artist compensation, access, and long-term sustainability. We believe art is a vital force for empathy, belonging, and social transformation.
What are some recent initiatives or projects you are particularly proud of?
Last year, during the fourth edition of our Latin Performing Arts Festival (FLAE), we presented Odd Man Out — the only blind theater experience in the United States. Audiences experienced the entire show in complete darkness, guided only by sound and imagination, which offered a transformative encounter for both sighted and visually impaired attendees.
A more recent highlight is Create Dangerously. Led by Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat, this a forum gathered a richly diverse, Caribbean-rooted audience to spark a vital dialogue on art, identity, and collective memory.
We also launched The Art of Interviewing, a trauma-informed puppetry series at the Osceola County Corrections Facility to support reentry preparation. This bilingual workshop uses puppet-building and role-play to explore identity, build soft skills, and process personal narratives.
This year, preparations are underway for more exciting productions that include, Souvenirs, a strikingly visual physical theater piece from France, and Drums of Fire, an Afro-Caribbean performance celebrating diasporic rhythms, among other exciting productions.
Our digital magazine, Open Zine, reaches nearly 3,000 monthly readers with cultural essays, interviews, and reviews. Our international playwriting contest Escena Abierta receives over 150 annual submissions and fosters global storytelling. Our Videoteca Cultural is a free, multilingual YouTube-based platform showcasing more than 180 videos. It features interviews, performances, and cultural storytelling to preserve and share diverse artistic expressions, expanding access beyond physical borders.
How does your organization celebrate and promote Hispanic heritage and culture within the community?
We celebrate Hispanic and Latin cultures year-round through programming that reflects the vibrancy, complexity, and ongoing evolution of our communities. From hosting renowned authors like Edwidge Danticat to commissioning immersive installations to staging works by iconic playwrights such as Sergio Blanco, Gustavo Ott, and Nilo Cruz, we foster cross-cultural dialogue and artistic excellence.
We bring some of the most important national and international Hispanic arts groups to Orlando, including the GALA Hispanic Theatre, Arca Images, Teatro Dallas, and Teatro Público de Puerto Rico. Additionally, our “Choose What You Pay” model and multilingual technology — which offers real-time translation in over 25 languages — removes traditional barriers to access and is welcome all audiences.
We are also co-founders of the first National Alliance of Latin Theater Festivals, in partnership with the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance. This alliance advocates to advance Hispanic artists’ representation nationally.
What challenges does your organization face, and how can the community support your efforts?
As a small but ambitious arts organization, our main challenge remains sustainability. We offer programming that is both affordable and inclusive, but this requires significant investment in artist fees, accessibility tools, and operational costs. Community members can support Open Scene by attending events, sharing our work, volunteering, and making tax-deductible donations at www.OpenScene.org. Every contribution helps us create more art for more people in more languages.
Would you like to highlight any upcoming events or goals you are trying to reach? How can people get involved?
We are thrilled to celebrate the fifth edition of our international Latin Performing Arts Festival (FLAE) at the at the A&H Museums of Maitland from September 22–28, 2025. This year’s lineup includes acclaimed artists from France, Spain, Miami, and New York, plus interactive installations, potlucks, and artist talkbacks with multilingual access. We will transform the entire A&H Museums of Maitland campus into a living canvas, where every corner will invite discovery, dialogue, and connection through art.
In celebration of our fifth anniversary, and thanks to the generous contributions of our partners and collaborators, this year’s entire FLAE is free of charge. All events simply require an RSVP.
You can explore our schedule, RSVP, or sign up to volunteer by visiting www.OpenScene.org or by following us on Instagram @OpenScene_org. We hope you will join us in shaping a more connected, creative, and plural future through the arts.
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